The Leonid meteor shower is a major annual meteor shower that is active from November 6 to November 30.
The predicted peak of the Leonid meteor shower will fall on November 18 at 10:59 UTC in 2025.
The Leonids are the swiftest of all known major annual meteor showers. They travel through the atmosphere at a speed of 69.7 km/s.
The Leonid meteor shower produces about 17 meteors per hour during peak activity in normal years. This is the average rate for the shower during the period 2010-2020.
Every year in mid-November, when our Earth passes through the debris of ice and dust left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle in its orbit, we witness the Leonid meteor shower. So Leonid meteors are the fragment of comet Tempel-Tuttle.
We see the Leonid meteor shower every year in mid-November when our Earth passes through the debris of ice and dust left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle in its orbit. So the Leonid meteors are fragments of the comet Tempel-Tuttle.
Moonlight will not interfere with the Leonids in 2025 because the thin waning crescent moon will rise just before dawn during peak activity. So you will get an almost moonless night to observe the Leonids in 2025.
Duration of peak activity
Unlike the Quadrantids in January or the Lyrids in April, there is no sharp peak of the Leonid meteor shower.
The peak activity of the Leonid meteor shower can last up to about three days, centered on the predicted peak, making it easier to observe.
When to see the Leonid meteor shower in 2025
Pre-dawn hours (at around 4 to 5 a.m. local time) of November 18 is the best time to see the Leonid meteor shower in 2025.
The point from where the Leonid meteor shower radiates in the sky, called the shower’s radiant, rises around midnight and reaches its highest point in the sky at dawn.
The radiant of the Leonid meteor shower climbs a decent height above the horizon at around 3 a.m. local time, so I will suggest you start watching Leonids (Leonid meteors) from pre-dawn hours (at around 3 a.m. local time) and continue it till dawn.
You won’t see the Leonid meteor shower until midnight as the shower’s radiant is located below the horizon.
Where to look to see the Leonid meteor shower
The Leonid meteor shower radiates from the zodiac constellation Leo, the Lion. Look high in the southeastern sky in the pre-dawn hours to spot the constellation Leo.
The radiant of the Leonid meteor shower is located near the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo. Regulus (alpha Leonis) is the brightest star in the constellation Leo and the 21st brightest star in the night sky. It is easily noticeable in the night sky, even from light-polluted areas.
However, I will suggest you don’t look at the constellation Leo only to see the Leonid meteor shower, as the meteors closer to the radiant have shorter trails and are difficult to observe. So move your gaze across the entire east, southeast, and south directions of the sky.
Visibility of the Leonid meteor shower
The Leonid meteor shower is most favorable to observers in the Northern Hemisphere, especially those located in the low-northern latitudes (from 10°N to 30°N).
Northern hemisphere: Observers located in the low-northern latitudes will see an excellent display of this shower, where the radiant reaches almost overhead in the sky (about 70° altitude) in the pre-dawn hours.
However, the observers located in the mid- and high-northern latitudes will see a moderate display of this shower, where the radiant reaches about 50° altitude in the pre-dawn hours.
Southern hemisphere: Observers located in the low-southern latitudes will see a poor display of this shower, where the radiant reaches about 30° altitude just before dawn.
Anyone living farther south than 25°S will struggle to observe this shower, where the radiant never rises much above the horizon.
How the Leonid meteor shower got its name
Meteor showers are usually named after a constellation in which the radiant lies during peak activity or after a bright star closest to the radiant.
The Leonid meteor shower got its name from the zodiac constellation Leo, as the shower’s radiant is located in the constellation Leo during peak activity.
How to observe the Leonid meteor shower
You don’t need any special equipment, such as a pair of binoculars or a telescope, to see the Leonid meteor shower. A meteor shower is best seen with the naked eye.
Find a safe, dark place away from city lights where a large portion of the sky is seen. Lie down or sit on a lawn chair and look straight up at the sky, facing roughly southeast. Bring blankets and sleeping bags to avoid a cold.
It will take around 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, and don’t look at your cell phone as the bright light from its screen will interrupt your night vision.
Be patient, as the celestial show of the Leonid meteor shower will be visible until dawn breaks.
As the night progresses you will see more Leonid meteors and will reach its maximum value just before dawn.
References
Atlas of Meteor Showers – A Practical Workbook for Meteor Observers
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